I'm done. . . Now what?

The school year ended on Friday. Mixed emotions, it is so great knowing that I have the first year behind me. It is sad because I am going to miss my class. I realized the down part of teaching 6th grade in an elementary school, I don't get to see my kids in the halls, or at activities. I'll only see them if they come and visit me.
The moment it really hit me, I was taking things off of my wall, and I have a poster I had made into a puzzle on the first day we put it together, and then they all signed it. I was looking at all their names, and I wanted to cry. They were so much fun to be around all year. It is kind of disheartening to hear at the beginning of the year how bad this class is going to be, not from the other teachers, but from the parents. That is how my year started out. Then on Friday I heard a different story from the parents, they all were so grateful I was here for those kids. I am grateful I was here for them, and they were here for me. I think I shocked a couple of parents by telling them how much I loved their kid in my class. There is no doubt it was a hard year. But at least I had the students who brightened my day every time I saw them. Let's hope next year is just as fun and just as good.
Now what? Well, I leave on my Church History trip in 14 days. When I get back I will have a month before I go to CORE academy for three days. An old roommate is getting married that same week. Then the next week I am going camping in Southern Utah with my ward. Then that next week I have to come back to school to get ready for next year. Busy, busy summer, I know, but it will be worth it.

Six Days. . . and counting

Okay, so this has to be quick becuase I have about a billion things that need to be done, and I am not doing any of them. But, I just got my raw scores from CORE testing. And at this moment there are some feelings of being a failure and there are some feelings of I am so great. Then there is the "next year I will. . . " I have been filling that sentence in all month. The biggest one on my list, "Next year I will not leave during the last two weeks of school." The others are all just as thought provoking and needed. Oh well. Back to CORE I felt really good until I saw the other two teachers scores, and I know I can't compare myself to them, but it is hard not too. I just totally feel like I will never match up to them. I also have a feeling of I need to match up to them. I just need to let that go and not worry about it. "Next year I will make sure I cover the CORE with enough time to study and prepare more."

Bliss

Bliss for me comes in many forms. Today it is the fact that for the last hour I haven't really had to deal with any of my students. I love their guts don't get me wrong. I just don't love their attitudes sometimes. Yesterday, they did Shakespeare plays for the whole morning, and I didn't have to deal with them until noon. That was very wonderful and nice. The day wasn't too busy they got to watch a movie and then I took the 6th grade out for recess and had to deal with the fifth graders. I had more problems with the 5th graders than the 6th grade. 9 days, well almost 8, and that is another moment of bliss for me.
Last night I went to their plays because my roommate wanted to see them. They did a great job and I am so proud of them. They are such a great group and a lot of them really shined out there on the stage. I did laugh quite a bit during Hamlet, but that was because personalilties were coming out on stage, and my goof offs were mostly in that play. So, I was laughing at that.
I don't know how much I can say this and not make it sound dumb, or fake, but even though I am ready for the school year to end, I am going to miss those kids in my class. There are so many fun personalilties. I have a lot that you just can't help but like. They drive me crazy sometimes, but I still think they are the best ever. The hardest thing for me this year hasn't been the students, it has been the team I work with. But, That is something out of my control so I will be happy with what is good, and with my students.

Update

To update from the last posting. I am staying in sixth grade at my school. I had the reading specialist tell me I should leave the other day. And I thought, "The NERVE." and I said, "No. I am staying." And I am stubborn enough to show the team that I can do it. So, here I go. It is going to be hard, but I am going to make it work.
On the lighter side. 2 weeks and we are finished. Next week the sixth grade is putting on two Shakespeare plays: Hamlet, and Mid Summer's Night Dream. It is going to be fun to see what they can do. Then there is the Feast, and Math Science Olympiad, as well as Lagoon, Field Day, and then graduation. It will be a whirlwind last two weeks.
My first year is almost behind me, and I am very happy, excited, sad, proud, worried, and ready. I really loved my group of kids in my class. They made me laugh and think. I think I will be a better teacher because of them and what they have shown me.
I leave in a month to go back east and I am very excited about that. I am looking forward to the break away from the normal life for a while. It is going to be busy. With my trip, CORE academy, weddings, and church activities, then school starts back up again. I hope I can add some hanging out with friends, concerts, and all that to the list. It is going to be a great summer.

Trying to Keep my Promise

There is so much I want to say, but so much I don't feel I can say because I made a promise that I wouldn't use this blog to complain about my team or students. Just school life is very difficult right now.
I am at a point I don't know what I should do. I've talked to my principal last week and if a different position opens up in the next few months I will be considered for it. Honestly, I really want to teach 6th grade again. I could do a better job of it next year. But, I won't leave schools because I have the best principal ever, so if the choice came down to continue working with the cruddy team or leave my school. I choose the cruddy team. But if it came down to getting away from the team or the cruddy team. . . I don't know what I will do.
Positive I have made friends with one of the kindergarten teachers. It is so great to have someone to talk to everyday. Someone who understands where I am coming from and can help me with not feeling too horrible. Also, someone who I can count the days down with and not feel like I am breaking my, "You still have month, you've got to keep going." By the way one month tomorrow and we are done with school. I will no longer be a first year teacher. I keep looking forward to that, because I will actually be able to teach my class everything in a timely manner. I will be completely honest, Math I am so behind, I'll be pushing my class to get it done in the next few days. Science, we just finished, but they still have some gaps. But at least we have a week to review. Oh well, I guess they will just do their best, and that is all I can hope for.

Ruined Lunch and NCTM

Well, we the sixth grade teachers finally did it. We held to our threats of seven months and the kids had to eat in the classroom today absolutely quiet, and I had to be in there to monitor. I was mad. Lunch is no fun in the classroom with twenty-five kids who aren't supposed to talk. Then we didn't have recess, so I started right into math which was good, because we were able to get things done before the assembly.
However, last minute decision has me going to the National Council of Teachers of Math confrence in Salt Lake on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'm excited. It means I will be away from the kids all day for TWO days. But, it also means I have to come up with sub plans, and all that fun stuff. Oh well, I am looking forward to it. I will tell you how it goes.

Go Fly A Kite!

And I did. It was kind of fun today to sit outside for a few minutes and just enjoy myself at school. I think the kids don't know what to think about me most of the time. It is what I get for being who I am with the personality I have. Other fun things for the day we did planets to scale today. The kids were kind of amazed when they looked back and noticed how far away everything was. I think next year there will be some changes in the activity. I'm sure I will come up with them.
I had my last observation for the year. YEA! It is finished. I had my principal observe me during center time. And he loved it. I proved that you can do centers in a 6th grade classroom. I have to say centers and Reading are my favorite time of the day. My kids work independently and I get a chance to have some one-on-one time with the kids of my class. I am glad my principal liked what he saw and he didn't think that it was a bad thing.
I think that is all about my life right now. We only have 7 weeks before this year is done. I am kind of sad and kind of excited at the same time. It has been a fun ride. I am just grateful I will never have to do my first year of teaching again.